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Shop Assistant Job Description: Top Duties and Requirements

A Shop Assistant, or Sales Assistant, works in the retail industry to assist customers with their shopping experience. Their primary duties include restocking shelves, resolving customer inquiries or complaints, keeping the sales floor clean, and processing sales and shipments.

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Shop Assistant duties and responsibilities

A Shop Assistant’s duties and responsibilities change daily, but their primary focus is to create the ideal shopping experience for every customer. Some of the ways Shop Assistants help include:

  • Assist customers with finding products on the sales floor
  • Process shipments and place the necessary merchandise on the sales floor
  • Ensure price labels are legible and correct
  • Greet customers and inform them of current promotions
  • Perform basic housekeeping tasks
  • Handle payments for any purchases
  • Recommend specific products to suit customers’ needs
  • Resolve customer complaints and inquiries
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Shop Assistant Job Description Examples:

What does a Shop Assistant do?

A Shop Assistant is a unique position, as they are doing something new every day. Shop Assistants must interact with customers by greeting them, answering any of their questions, solving complaints, assisting them to find merchandise, and recommending products. Shop Assistants must also ensure the store looks neat and tidy by restocking shelves, cleaning their work areas, checking that all merchandise is in good condition and arranging it to be visually appealing and encourage sales.

Shop Assistant skills and qualifications

The most important skills a Shop Assistant needs are strong customer service skills. They are the face of the company and must ensure every customer feels welcome. In addition to customer service, some other skills and qualifications a Shop Assistant needs to exemplify include:

  • Strong product knowledge of the company’s merchandise
  • Ability to operate point of sale software and pricing equipment
  • Good team player
  • Able to multi-task
  • Great written and verbal communication skills
  • Works well in fast-paced environments
  • Flexibility to complete different tasks each day
  • Maintain visual standards by cleaning and stocking shelves

Shop Assistant experience requirements

Shop Assistant positions vary significantly depending on the industry. However, many candidates can be successful in the role without prior experience. Those with sales or customer service experience are an asset, but volunteer work involving interpersonal skills can also be sufficient.

Shop Assistant education and training requirements

There are no academic requirements for a Shop Assistant. Those with a high school diploma or GED are an asset, but it’s not a requirement of the role. Many candidates are ready to work part-time while completing their high school diploma or post-secondary education. Providing on-the-job training prepares Shop Assistants with product knowledge to share with customers.

Shop Assistant salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Shop Assistant in Canada is $37,893 per year. This varies based on experience, location, and the hiring company.

Job description samples for similar positions

If a Shop Assistant isn’t exactly what you’re looking for, some other related job description samples include:

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Shop Assistant job description FAQs

Who does a Shop Assistant work under?

Shop Assistants can work in any industry that deals with sales in a physical location and can work for a business of any size. Shop Assistants typically work for retailers that sell tangible products such as jewelry, technology, food, clothing, office supplies, furniture, and many other items.

What industries do Shop Assistants work in?

Shop Assistants and Sales Associates have a similar role, but different establishments have different requirements, usually based on the size of the sales team. Smaller stores tend to use the title Shop Assistant for employees that are responsible for sales within the entire shop. A Sales Associate typically works at a bigger establishment and is only responsible for a specific department. For example, a Sales Associate at a technology retailer would work in the laptop and desktop computer department, and be knowledgeable about those specific products. Whereas a Shop Assistant would be responsible for an entire boutique clothing store.

What is the difference between a Shop Assistant and a Sales Associate?

It’s vital for Shop Assistants to have strong interpersonal skills. Shop Assistants tend to be one of the only people customers come across when they browse in a store. Shop Assistants who greet guests with a positive attitude create a welcoming environment. Customers who feel welcome are more likely to make a purchase and to come back in the future. So, a Shop Assistant should have good interpersonal skills to interact with customers and help them when necessary.

Job Description Examples

Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.

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